t across the room, adjusting to the warm, golden rays of sunlight that insistently attempted to pierce through the gaps in the curtains. The once vibrant and

at marriage would provide an escape from the facade she had been forced to wear, a mask that hid her vulnerability from the world. Despite projecting

dered her speechless. She had felt utterly abandoned by her family, who seemed indifferent to her suffering. To make matters worse,

ction to her mother-Arla's thoughts wandered to her new husband, a man she neither understood nor loved, yet found herself strangely attracted to. She had believed that marrying him would free her from her father's grasp, which was why she hadn't declined the arrangement.

t desires: "All I want is peace and quiet, and to be loved by someone. I don't even know what it fee

last night's passion. Her heart fluttered as memories of his touch, his scent, and his dominance flooded her mind-the way he kissed her, the way he made her moan. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and

of last night's encounter and the emotional turmoil she now faced. She closed her eyes, allowing the water to

e against her vulnerable state. She stood in front of the mirror, her reflection a testament to her inn

d. She got dressed, her clothing a physical armor that concealed the turmoil hidden beneath

reakfast. As she sat down, her thoughts kept drifting back to the events of the previous night-her new husband, the man who had stirred something inside her that she c

ur other stunning ladies enter the dining room. Not wanting to engage in an argument, Arla simply greeted th

. Finally, Laurette broke the silence, stating, "If you are new, you should learn the rules." Arla stared at

the authority Laurette had carefully established over the years within the estate. Liam, her stepson, had entrusted her with full control over both the household and

r control over this new girl before she disrupted the dynamics of the household. Laurette was well aware that Liam had a soft spot for Vivian, despite his numerou

ould expect from a daughter-in-law. Determined to maintain her grip on the household and